8 Day Sail and Bike North of the Netherlands and Wadden Sea island hopping

Embarkation and check-in where the crew will welcome you on board is from 2 p.m. near the beautiful center of Enkhuizen and close to the railway station. After unpacking your luggage the skipper will join you for an aperitif before giving you a rundown of what to expect on the journey, details about the ship and also about safety measures to be taken on board. In the evening take a stroll through the historical center of Enkhuizen, a quaint town that was the home of the Dutch merchant fleet during the Golden Age of The Netherlands.

Enjoy your first night on board in Enkhuizen on the western bank of the lake IJsselmeer.

Today you can cycle the first leg of the trip along the IJsselmeer coast through the beautiful polder landscape to Medemblik.  After the cycling tour the ship will sail further to Den Oever.

Depending on the weather in the evening the ship will take the lock and sail across the Wadden Sea (part of the North Sea) to the island of Texel.

The island of Texel is a cyclist’s dream destination with its varied scenery, well signposted cycle tracks and picturesque villages.

Our suggestion is to complete a round trip cycling tour of the largest of the Dutch North Sea islands on the easy-to-follow Thijsse-route (40 km/24 mi.) that takes you via a number of villages, the seal sanctuary station “Ecomare” and a traditional beer brewery near the harbor of Oudeschild.

Today you will enjoy sailing on your ship, when the tide and the weather are right, to the island of Terschelling.

As you sail your way through the sandbanks of the Wadden Sea, keep a lookout for seals on the sandbars.

In the afternoon the ship will arrive on Terschelling island, which features a number of picturesque villages situated between the polder and sand dunes along its 30 km expanse.

While sailing you will enjoy an extensive lunch on board.

No dinner will be served tonight, to enable you to explore the island, but you can make yourself a picnic meal or try one of the nice restaurants at Terschelling (not incl.).

While the previous day was all about sailing, today is all about cycling. Terschelling has plenty to offer cycle tourists: nature and culture, 70 km of cycling tracks and 4 beautiful villages.

West Terschelling is the largest village on the island and features a number of nice shops and pubs.

The standout landmark on the island is the 400 year-old lighthouse “Brandaris” that can be seen from well off in the distance.

Also worth visiting is the heath land of “Boschplaat” which will captivate you with its mud, beaches and dunes.

You might even spot ducks, black-winged stilts, large colonies of spoonbills and great black-backed gulls.

After a day of cycling, you can relax in comfort once you have arrived on board. In the late afternoon the ship will cross the Wadden Sea sail to Harlingen, the most important harbor city of the province of Friesland.

Via Franeker, with the famous planetarium of Eise Eisinga,

you cycle through the beautiful wide Frisian countryside along several rural villages to the small harbor of Makkum on the eastern bank of the lake IJsselmeer.

If you take the long cycling trip, you will also visit Bolsward, one of the Eleven Frisian Cities.

From Makkum you will cycle to Stavoren. The short tour leads you via the old trading town of Hindeloopen.

This local art of painting – a type of traditional decorative painting – is quite famous. Apart from this you’ll find the First Frisian Museum of Ice Skating in Hindeloopen.

The long tour runs along several Frisian lakes and shows you a different type of landscape.

From Stavoren the ship will set sail to cross the IJsselmeer to Enkhuizen in the late afternoon.

This is the last moment of the Boat and Bike holiday , now you have seen the Netherlands as the local see it evey day

This the only way to enjoy the trip cycle every day on a new destination , While you have a coffee or a lunch or Breakfast the boat bring you to the next city , village , Island or country side experience

Disembarkation after breakfast until 9.30 a.m.

Parts that are printed in italics parts will be covered by the ship.

All distances are “approximate distances” of recommended bike tours.

The planned itinerary is subject to change due to nautical, technical or meteorological reasons and other unforeseen circumstances. If there is low or high water and a route cannot be shipped, the captain reserves the right to change the route in view of your safety (this cannot be accepted as a reason for free withdrawal).

• The daily bike tours are individual, conducted at your own pace and without a tour leader. There are daily briefings on board and detailed bicycle maps and route notes are available. GPS tracks will be sent to you 4 weeks before the start date of the tour.
• During the days when 2 bicycle options are possible, you can make a choice for the longer or the shorter option.
• Not all mentioned highlights will be visited during the short bike option.
• In case you prefer a day of rest, you can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next town.
• On the arrival day is it possible to bring your luggage on board from 11 a.m.

Important observations for the Sail & Bike program: A little bit of adventure is a part of every Sail & Bike tour: the departure and arrival day and the location – Enkhuizen – are a certainty, 100%. For the rest, the planned daily sailing routes are partially dependent on the strength and direction of the winds and – on the Wadden Sea – high and low tide. The skipper decides the best route to be taken day by day, and discusses the options with his guests. The crew does everything in its power to enable the program to run according to plan and to offer you as fascinating, varied and active a week as possible, in which nature and culture play a major part. It is, however, also possible that departure times and the time spent on the water – and even the order of the program itself – may be adjusted. Enjoy the ride and let yourself be led by the elements! Whenever possible, various passages will be undertaken fully rigged and anyone who would like to help the crew to sail and steer the boat is welcome to do so. This is of course absolutely up to you and no sailing experience is necessary.

For more information please contact our concierge@above-5.com or concierge@above5stars.com or chat with us via our website chat !!!

SHIP 1 who sail on this route the name of the ship is : Wapen fan Fryslân

With its 55 metres of length, the Wapen fan Fryslân is the largest two-master schooner on the Dutch waterways. In 1965 the sailing ship was launched as a cargo ship, transporting all kinds of freight throughout the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. In 2003 the ship was completely transformed into a sailing passenger ship. On board of this marvellous ship you will immediately notice its warm and luxurious atmosphere. The Wapen fan Fryslân is owned and operated by Erik van Aken and is sailing the Frisian Sea Tour.

Description of the cabins
On the lower deck, the Wapen fan Fryslân has twelve identical twin cabins (8,5 m² – 91 sq.ft.), each with two separate single beds which can be set together and a  folding bed as a third bed which can be used if needed. In each cabin there is a bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. All cabins have ventilation, central heating and two portholes of which one can be opened. Furthermore, you will find a mini safe in each cabin.

Description of the ship
On the lower deck the Wapen van Fryslân offers a large lounge/restaurant with TV, which is characterized by its luxurious appearance and flexible furnishing. From here you can reach the large wheelhouse with a cosy and stylish bar and seating area. The panoramic windows offer a perfect all around view of the water. Wi-Fi is available. The afterdeck has an outdoor cafe with draught beer tap and a Jacuzzi and on the middle deck there are various sitting areas and there is room to enjoy a lovely meal outdoors to watch the scenery while sailing.

Facts about the ship
Length:            55 m (180 ft.)
Width:             7,2 m (24 ft.)
Sail surface:     550 m²- 5920 sq.ft.
Crew:              4
Cabins:            12
Pass.:               24 – 36 (max.)